Matt Fairchild died by assisted suicide after a 10 year battle with Stage 2 melanoma.
However, this story does not cite pain as the primary reason Matt Fairchild died by assisted suicide. His widow explains in a video that “hospice did their best… but he could not stand up on his own, he could not go to the bathroom on his own, he could not even sit up on his own.”
Taking nothing away from Mr. Fairchild’s suffering or his illness, these are all newfound disabilities. There are millions in this country who cannot stand up, go to the bathroom, or sit up on their own who deserve assisted suicide prevention care when they feel that those disabilities are too much to bear and ask for help in suicide.
For people with disabilities, it is vital to ensure that they have access to care, services, and supports. Assisted suicide laws are most often used by people with disability-related concerns, like feeling a burden on their family, loss of the ability to control bodily functions, and loss of mobility. Advocating for a public policy motivated by a fear of disability sends the message that disability is a fate worse than death
Canada suspends plans to allow psychiatric euthanasia INDEFINITELY! Today the Canadian Ministers of Justice and Health announced that the plan to allow MAID (euthanasia) for patients with psychiatric disorders in March 2027, will be POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. This came on the same day as a Parliament vote scheduled on their C-218 bill that would permanently exclude
Canada Halts One Assisted Suicide Expansion While Proposing Another Canada just announced a significant reversal on euthanasia, but also a troubling new expansion. The Canadian government says it will introduce legislation to indefinitely prevent people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness from qualifying for euthanasia. That is welcome news. The expansion was originally scheduled
Delaware Assisted Suicide Lawsuit: A Critical Hearing Before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals From the Desk of Matthew P. Vallière Sept. 24, 2026 Yesterday, I was honored to represent the plaintiffs in our lawsuit against the state of Delaware at a hearing at the 3rd Circuit Court of appeals in Newark, New Jersey.
